Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Former Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana caught up in a Public spat over the fate of key development projects in the County. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Former Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana and current Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr have engaged in a sharp public exchange over the fate of key development projects in the county, reigniting debate over leadership, continuity, and accountability in devolved governance.
The war of words was triggered by Prof. Kibwana’s New Year message, in which he lamented the continued closure of the Makindu Pulses Factory, describing it as a missed opportunity for farmers and the rural economy. Kibwana argued that Makueni’s heavy reliance on pulses such as green grams (ndengu), pigeon peas (mbaazi), and cowpeas (kunde) could translate into significant economic gains through deliberate value addition.
“The idle Makindu pulses factory stands as a lost opportunity. Bringing it back would ease pressure on farmers and revitalize the local pulses industry,” Kibwana stated, adding that he was saddened the facility closed after he left office in 2022.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr swiftly dismissed the claims, terming them inaccurate and misleading. In a detailed response, Mutula said the factory was among several stalled World Bank–supported projects his administration inherited in a state of disrepair and without clear operational frameworks.
“When I got into office, we found many stalled projects. Makindu was one of them. There was no business plan handed over, or it was hidden,” Mutula said. He noted that the facility had leaking roofs, stored produce during a drought without an approved disposal or sale mechanism under the Finance Act, and had been flagged by auditors soon after.
The governor further revealed that the factory faced serious legal and operational challenges, including licensing hurdles, lack of a KRA PIN, and only one remaining staff member. While designed to process up to 32,000 tonnes per day, Mutula argued that current production levels in Makueni could not sustain such capacity.
“It was obvious we do not have the production capacity. The factory can serve the whole of Eastern and Southern counties, but we must first increase output,” he said, pointing to newly formed farmer Saccos, seed distribution, fertilizer depots, and feasibility studies conducted through the Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUEDE) programme to attract private investors.
Kibwana, however, escalated the criticism, insisting that the county he handed over was stable, functional, and consistently ranked among top performers with clean audit outcomes. He accused Mutula’s administration of neglecting strategic economic initiatives such as the Kitise Poultry Abattoir, Makueni Universal Healthcare, and the Makueni Milk Project.
“Endless complaints about leaking roofs, absent business plans, and inherited challenges only expose a failure of leadership. Governance is about fixing problems, not lamenting them,” Kibwana said, warning that the neglect of high-impact projects would ultimately be judged by the people of Makueni.
He also questioned budgetary decisions made after 2022, alleging that supplementary budgets disrupted ongoing projects, including the diversion of funds earmarked for Kikima Hospital, and raised concerns over variations to already procured projects such as Mukuyuni Market.
In response, Governor Mutula defended his leadership, saying he had embraced county staff rather than purging them, absorbed inherited liabilities—including a Sh150 million pension bill—and managed governance amid shrinking national transfers, economic downturns, and climate shocks.
On Kitise Poultry Abattoir, Mutula said technical assessments found the facility unsuitable for food handling due to its timber roofing, describing it as a “nearly lost investment” that would require rebuilding or repurposing.
“Funds have not been forthcoming. Counties are operating on deficits despite increased own-source revenue,” he said, adding that challenges facing agriculture were national in nature, with key resources still controlled by the national government.
Despite the heated exchange, Mutula maintained he had avoided apportioning blame, describing restraint as a hallmark of leadership, while reaffirming his commitment to leaving Makueni in a better state for future administrations.
The public spat has drawn significant attention, with residents closely watching how the county’s stalled projects—seen as potential game changers for agriculture and industrialization—will be resolved.
As both leaders invoke accountability to the people of Makueni, the debate underscores a broader national question: how counties can balance inherited challenges, political transitions, and long-term economic planning under devolution.
